School, work, family, friends. It seems like there isn’t enough time in the day to enjoy life. That’s why I think it’s important for students to think about a gap year and how it can help reduce stress in their life.
Whether you just graduated high school, or into your 2nd year in college, taking gap year anytime can help you get prepared or caught up for your future.
If you are unsure of which direction or career path you want to pursue, taking a break from school can help you find clarity and make better decisions.
Feeling adventurous? Thinking about traveling but don’t have time? A break from school to take a trip somewhere has many benefits. You can relax, gain experience and maybe learn a new language. Coming back from a road trip or vacation gives you a different mind set and gives you that boost and energy to continue your studies.
Lost motivation? If you get mentally and emotionally burnt out it’s important to slow down and think about your priorities. Take care of yourself by taking a break from school.
If a tragedy or emergency happens whether it’s your health or someone else’s health at risk it can be hard to focus in class and keep up with your assignments. Gap year can help you take a breather and think about what’s really important.
Can’t keep up with rent? Books and classes can get expensive. Gap year can help you get caught up financially, working and affording college on your own.
Have family, or starting a new family? It’s important to take time off school for a while and focus on what’s best for you and your family.
Figuring out what you want to study, or even the next step can be a hard decision. Taking gap year can help you plan and organize your semesters so when you return to school you know what to do without wasting time.
Feel like doing something good for others? Gap year can let you volunteer and help out your community with the time you have.
Gap year is just like a long holiday. Taking a break from school now is good, once you get closer to your career it will get harder to even consider taking a break from school.
Just because it’s called “Gap Year”, doesn’t mean it’s a year. It can be a short term or long term semester. Just enough time for you to think about the next step in your education.
So if you are thinking about gap year, it’s okay to take a break and think about what you want, but don’t get to comfortable and lose track of your education goal.
